William a



W. A. WATSON.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

' EweTUZ'OTJ WILLIAM A. WATSON, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONALPIANO COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF M AINE.

PIANO-BENCH.

1,194LA I9.

Application filed December 13, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. WATSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Malden, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano- Benches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to seats for the use of performers on musical instruments, and has especial reference to seats adapted for use with player pianos.

The most improved musical instruments known as player pianos are so constructed that they can be operated either with the aid of perforated music sheets, or can be used for manual playing. When a piano is being played manually the performer is recommended to sit at a certain height, while for operating the piano 'by'means of a perforated music sheet, the power being furnished by means of pedals connected to bellows, it is desirable that the performer shall sit higher than when playing manually; also that the performer shall have the seat somewhat inclined forwardly and with the center of gravity of the performer somewhat forward of the point where the bench rests upon the floor, in order to operate the bellows with the increased pressure that is sometimes necessary, without liability of being tilted or thrown backwardly due to the force used in operating the pumping bellows. It is of course also practically essential that the performer when operating the piano by means of the perforated sheet music and by means of pumping bellows shall sit at the center, while when playing the piano by the manual operation of the keys, a central'position is not so necessary. In fact, when a piano is being played manually by two persons, then what is known as'a duet bench is usually employed.

At present, many dealers furnish two benches to the purchaser of a'modern player piano, one for manual playing, the bench then being usually laterally elongated and having a horizontal upper surface, the other bench furnished by the dealer having an inclined seat. This of course results in necessitating room for two benches or seats, and the frequent substitution of one for the other according to whether the piano is be- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

Serial N 0. 806,447.

ing played manually or with the perforated music sheet.

The principal object of my invention is to combine in one bench all of the features desirable in the two benches or seats mentioned.

Myinvention consists in the improvements which I shall now proceed to describe and claim. Of the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 1s a perspective view of a simple form of bench embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 represents a section on line 22 of Fig. 1, but with the movable seat in its raised and forwardly tilted position, which position is indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an under plan view of the mid-portion of the bench, with the movable seat in its closed or horizontal position.

Similar reference characters similar parts in all of the views.

Inthe embodiment illustrated I have shown a very simple form of framework comprising ahorizontal, rectangular, and laterally elongatedframe 10 having legs 11. Connectingthe front and rear strips of the frame 10 are cross, strips 12 which support front and rear pivot rods 13, 14L respectively, the latter being'at a slightly higher elevation than the former, as shown in Fig. 2. The movable seat section hereinafter de scribed is mounted upon rear and front linkrockers 15, 16, which are pivoted respectively upon the rods 13, 1 1. As best shown in Fig. 2, the front rocker 16 is shorter than the rear rocker 15, the object of which will be hereinafter explained.

The top of the bench is provided with fixed seat portions 17 between which the movable seat section 18 is adapted to closely fit, as indicated by full lines in Fig. 1, so that the device as a whole can be utilized as a duet bench, or for manual playing by a single performer, the top of the bench being, when in said position, substantially horizontal. v

To enable the movable seat section 18 to be elevated and swung forwardly in an inclined position, as indicated by full lines in Fig. 2, and dotted lines in Fig. 1, I secure to the under side of said seat section 18 two rear blocks 19 and two front blocks 20, as by means of suitable screws 21 (Fig. 3). The two rear blocks 19 support the ends of indicate a rear swinging pivot rod 22,. and the two front blocks 20 support the ends of a front swinging pivot rod 23. Portions of the two rockers 15', 16, are cut out to accommodate the blocks 19, 20, as best shown in Fig. 3,

the portions of the rockers which extend be tion shown by full lines in Fig. 2 or the position shown by full lines in Fig. 1. The positions occupied by the blocks 19, 20, and the rockers and swinging pivot rods when the movable seat section 18 is closed or in its lower horizontal position, are represented by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

If the rocker 15 terminated at the rod 13, there would then be an open space behind the rod 13, which would not only be unsightly but which might permit portions of the garments of a performer to fall through or get caught in that space. To overcome this objection I provide the rocker 15 with an extension 24 which, when the movable seat section is elevated, will occupy the position shown by full lines in Fig. 2, and so close the space that would otherwise exist. When the seat section 18 is returned swings down to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

In order to adapt the device for use in connection with a player piano, the section 18 may be readily raised and swung over until the block 20 contacts with the upper surface of the front rail of the frame 10, as shown by full lines in Fig. 2, said blocks serving therefore as stops or limiting means for preventing further forward movement of said section 18. I do not limit myself however to the employment of the blocks 20 as the specific stops or limiting means. It is essential however that the stops employed shall be such as to permit the movement of the seat section 18 far enough to carry the upper pivots 22, 23, forwardly from Vertical lines intersecting'the rods 13, 14, in order that there will be no possibility of the seat 18 accidentally returning to its lower horizontal position. The relative positions of the upper and lower pivot rods, as shown in Fig. 2, is such as to sustain the backward thrust resulting from the performer operating the bellows pedals, the weight of'the operator of course aiding in avoiding liability of the rockers swinging backwardly. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2 the forward inclination of the seat 18, and the fact that it is then projected forward or in an advanced position relatively to the framework results in avoiding any liability of the performer tilting backwardly resulting fromforcible operation of the bellows pedals. This is because when so adjusted the point of rear thrust against the floor is farther behind the performer than when the seat is inits lower position.

As clearly shown in Fig. 2 the blocks 20 are so carried by the seat section 18 as to be in position to rest squarely upon the front portion of the frame 10 when the seat 18 is in position for operating a player piano. At this time the seat 18 is in its elevated. and forward position and, of course, the weight of the performer is borne mainly by the front portion of the seat 18, and therefore the blocks 20 provide a solid support for the seat that will not permit any looseness or squeaking. It is when a performer is actuating a motor bellows of a player piano that there is most likely to be such movement of the body of the performer as tov shift the seat backwardly or sidewise. The blocks 20, however, transmit all weight directly to the frame 10 without liability of causing any squeaking of joints. Of course, when the seat is in its lower position, it is supported squarely at both front and rear by the frame 10.

The fixed sections 17 of the device afford convenient means for supporting the music rolls in their boxes when a performer is using the bench in connection with a player piano. For instance, the rolls selected to be played may be all piled upon one section 17, and after they have been used can be then placed upon the other section 17.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A piano bench having a frame and a sectional seat supported thereby, one section being movable to an elevated advanced position without reversal, two substantially parallel swinging members connecting said movable section with the frame, the rear swinging member being longer than the front one, and stop blocks carried by said movable section in position to bear on the top of the frame when said section is in its elevated advanced position.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a frame, a seat movable upwardly and forwardly therefrom, and front and rear substantially parallel link rockers connecting said frame and seat, the rear rocker having an angular extension adapted to swing rearwardly when said seat is shifted from its lower position to support clothing overhanging the rear edge of the seat.

3. A piano bench having a frame and a movable seat, and front and rear substantially parallel and swinging members pivotally connected at their ends with said frame and seat, said swinging members being of unequal length and having their pivotal connections with the frame and seat at fixed points, the movable seat being adapted to rest on the frame when in lowered position, said parts being relativel proportioned and Connected to permit t e seat to be raised from lower substantially horizontal position to an elevated advanced inclined position without reversal of the seat, said movable seat having blocks in position to bear on the front portion of the frame when the seat is in the last-named position.

4. A piano bench comprising a horizontal laterally elongated frame having legs, fixed seat sections at the ends ofthe frame, an intermediate movable seat section adapted to rest in lowered position on the front and rear members of the frame, two substantially parallel swinging members connecting the movable section with the frame, the rear swinging member being longer than the front one whereby the movable section may be shifted from a lower position between and flush with the fixed sections to an elevated advanced inclined position without reversal, said movable section having a stop on its under side adapted to bear on the top of the front member of the frame when in the last mentioned position.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. WATSON.

Witnesses:

A. W. HARRISON, P. W. PEZZETTI.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D 0. 

